Words of Jesus Part 22

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

We see a parable here to warn the believers in Jesus Christ to Watch. When we read the letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3rd chapter we see that it is possible not to be ready when the Lord returns. It is possible for us to be in a backslidden dangerous state of being.

We can take the parable of the seed with this also. The seed falling on ground where thorns and weeks sprung up represented the one where the cares, riches and being wrapped up in this life choked the seed and it became unfruitful.

Who would not be ready when the Lord returns.

The first would be of course all who neglected to repent of sin and receive Jesus Christ as Lord.
Those who thought the Lord delayed His coming and became cruel and lacked mercy toward fellow believers.
(We see this when one particular religion or church gets powerful enough to rule the country and does not tolerate anyone who tries to correct error in the church). In order for a church or congregation to be pure from error, they must be willing to judge themselves and make sure they are still keeping the word of God in truth. If we get to the place where we think our church leaders are perfect and can't make a mistake, we are headed down the wrong pathway. We must always have a mind that will repent when wrong is discovered.
Another thing that will hinder us is compromising with continual un-confessed sin that we know from the word of God without a doubt is sin. I'm not talking about how one dresses or where they go. That may reflect what is in the heart but we can get into judging unrighteous judgments and nitpicking if we get into outward appearances. Most people who really love God will not want to dress indecently but we must allow for the fact that not all believers have gotten to the place where they can see everything that a person who has walked with God for years can see. They may do things out of habit and tradition that we might think is wrong but they might not see it yet. We must set examples for them and not lord over them with intimidation. In matters where we are not sure from the scriptures that something is definitely wrong, we must just be loving examples.
Lukewarm spirit or lack of concern for the things of God that we once had.
Ashamed of Christ before others who do not believe.
Claim Christ but do not have the fruits like the verses following describe.

Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Here was someone who knew the plan of salvation and the word of God but was ashamed to let anyone know that he was a believer. He was given the word of God but kept it hidden. I don't believe this means natural talents, like musical inclination, carpentry and such like some believe. We may have a natural talent to play the piano but have no piano. I think this means spiritual understanding and things God gives us to share the gospel with.

Be faithful in what we have received and what we know. If all someone knows how to do is be kind to a minister of the gospel, then that may apply. We do what we know to do. Not all have the same calling. The word talent in this parable does not mean the word talent that we use today meaning someone's ability. A talent was money that they were supposed to invest. That doesn't mean that we literally take money and invest it but we use what God gives us spiritually and bring forth fruit.

An example would be the parable of the seed again where seed was sown by the way side and the birds ate it before it could bear fruit. One who hid the talent was unprofitable, unfaithful and didn't bear fruit that a believer that is "born again" by God's spirit should bear.

When we first become born again, we are supposed to grow in the knowledge of the word, in prayer and bring forth fruits of righteousness. If we accept Christ as savior once and never pray or seek God afterward, we would resemble this person who had received one piece of money and hid it.

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

True faith and true conversion will be a life of compassion and concern for the poor, the disabled, the hungry, and even those in prison. If we see someone starving and we have plenty to eat, we do not have true saving faith. There are people that do not know Jesus that have more compassion than some of us who claim to know Him. If we are saved and have been born again by God's spirit we will not neglect the poor.

As for nations, God judges us as individuals and as nations. Any nation that persecutes and oppresses the innocent, the poor and the suffering will be judged severely by God. It is the same as hurting Jesus Himself. This means the Jewish people also. During the Holocaust, God saw the nations that turned their backs on the Jewish people and did not help. God saw the nations that sent them to the gas chambers. Notice in verse 40 Jesus says that Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. His brethren were the Jews and those that believe in Him and become adopted into the vine of Israel. God sees the nations that persecute believers in Jesus Christ. They will be judged. God sees the nations that have plenty and allow the poor to starve. God sees the rich man who has a house full of treasures while his neighbor near by doesn't have enough to feed his family.

Words of Jesus Part 23

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